Hull City touched down in Portugal this lunchtime to begin a lengthy training camp ahead of the new Championship season kicking off next month.

Head coach Leonid Slutsky says the next 12 days will be “very important” for bringing his squad together, implementing fresh ideas and fine-tuning preparations.

City writer Philip Buckingham, who will fly out to the Algarve later this week, looks at what is in store for the Tigers.

Where will City be based?

For the fifth summer in a row, the Tigers will spend time on the Algarve in the build-up to a new season. The team’s base will be close to the popular resort of Lagos, roughly an hour’s drive from Faro, and includes training pitches and a gym on site. It will be familiar to a few of City’s longest-servants after Steve Bruce took his team there in 2013, a camp that saw loan signing Danny Graham arrive midway through.

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How will training be structured?

In keeping with past years, City will train early in the morning and then again in the evening, avoiding the hottest parts of the day. Lest we forget, City almost cancelled this trip last month due to the high temperatures on the Algarve. There will be sessions devoted to fitness levels but Slutsky has already shown a willingness to focus upon ball work and shape in small-sided games. Kamil Grosicki, Ahmed Elmohamady and Abel Hernandez will be given time to play catch-up after their extended summers.

When will supporters see the first of City’s friendlies?

Saturday evening is when the Tigers’ pre-season gets underway in earnest. A friendly against League One side Oxford United will be staged at Estadio Da Nora, home of FC Ferreiras, the same small ground that will host City’s clash with Bristol Rovers three days later. Both games will kick-off at 6.30pm. The mouthwatering date in City’s trip to Portugal comes on Saturday week when facing Benfica, reigning champions of Primeira Liga. That takes place at the impressive Estadio Algarve with an 8.30pm kick-off.

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When will City return to England?

The end of a demanding camp comes after that clash with Benfica, with City flying home on Sunday 23 July. Slutsky, who will hope to see his squad bolstered by new signings in the meantime, will then turn his attentions to the clash with FC Nantes at Craven Park on Tuesday 25 July, City’s only friendly on English soil this summer.